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Breast cancer isn't a cookie-cutter disease. The proverbial lump just doesn't cover the possibilities of breast cancer. Breast cancer can invade the ducts of the breast or the tissue surrounding the ducts and lobules of the breast. Cancer can take the form of minute cell changes that can't be seen by the human eye or cellular changes beneath the surface of the skin. Let's look at how to even the odds in the fight against breast cancer with early detection, treatment options and future developments.

Early Detection

Every month, you gently press out a circular pattern on your breasts. This monthly checkup functions as a woman's foremost tool against a disease that over 70 percent of women discover during this routine self-exam, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Although most lumps aren't cancerous, this diligence leads to early detection of breast cancer and subsequent higher survival rates.

Mammograms also play an important role in detecting and managing breast changes. A baseline mammogram provides doctors with a snapshot of your breasts to compare against future mammogram pictures. Each woman's medical history is so unique that you must decide with the help of your doctor when you should have that first baseline mammogram.

Breast cancer doesn't always come in the form of a traditional "lump." Breast cancer can take the form of microcalcifications that might become a collection point for cancer cells. If you have calcifications, your doctor will schedule subsequent mammograms to check for clustering, increased size or irregular shapes. A biopsy might also be scheduled to remove the calcium deposit to check for breast cancer.

Still other types of breast cancers create changes in the breasts that aren't readily noticeable. Some women experience a firming of the breasts that indicate cellular changes in the lobules (milk producers) in the breasts. Others might feel patches of extreme warmth coupled with redness that can indicate a more serious breast condition. Self-exam requires a physical check as well as a visual check of the breasts. Any changes should be discussed with your doctor, sooner rather than later.

Current Treatments for Breast Cancer

A diagnosis of breast cancer isn't a ticket to the grave. Breast cancer is a very treatable disease but treatment is aggressive. Doctors have found that the combination of full removal of tumors and chemotherapy greatly increases survival rate to allow many women a new lease on life as

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